Can someone clue me in please?

Ok, so last few months I've been riding plenty, but not on forums much due to new Jeep wrangler
I get back here, and all I see is beast-this, walmart-that....ummm...

As long as Ive been on the forums, it really didn't matter what type of bike it was, if it was any type of dept store bike, especially walmart, it was frowned-upon....common knowledge that if you even look at it wrong, it will spontaneously combust....

What is going on?

Really, honestly, I am asking a 100% serious question. Flame me if you like but I'm not trolling. Just quite surprised to be reading all this stuff about a walmart bike.

I think people are happy to see someone putting downward price pressure on the existing fat market. About as low as you can get! Yes, pun intended. OK.. so the spec of components kind of sucks. OK... so they don't pose any threat to the real fatbike companies. Actually... it might have a trickle up effect, where new low budget folks get inspired by this "emerging niche" and buy a better bike!

Whatever. It does not bother me in the least. I like the creativity if nothing else.

Most people ply the Well Trodden Path. A few seek a different way, and leave a Trail behind.
- John Hajny, a.k.a. TrailMaker

I thought all the talk about it would be simmering down by now, but people are apparently doing a bunch of upgrading, or at least talking about it. I still think it will die down, and become a non-topic before long. I do think it is a great thing to happen(the beast being made, and being sold at Walmart), but I am not really interested in talking about it very much. It doesn't bother me to see a few threads up there that I'm not interested in though. I just skip down to something that does, but there hasn't been a whole lot to talk about recently.

Unlike most of the critics, I actually have one...meaning I've really rode it and am not speculating from the sidelines. First off, the components suck and are boat anchors. The tires are very heavy too. Coaster brake on back...not my thing either, plus no brake up front. All that being said, I'm having a blast with it! I love to tinker and build things, which makes this a great platform for that. Even if I soak another $300 into it I'm still not into it for much money and I'm having fun. I have an additional $125 or so into mine and I really enjoy riding it. I will upgrade brakes still.

So I feel it's just about opinion, taste, cost, ability, and most importantly fun. If you don't like it...cool. If you buy one, chances are you will like it. If you have the ability to drop lots of cash on a turn key bike and not the ability or desire to tinker around...I get it. I just hope everyone is having as much fun as I am and I wish everyone a great summer of riding whatever you got wherever you can.

Yeah i have one too. And I also own another more expensive fat bike.
My Beast get road more. I love the simplicity of it and the fact that I can lock it up outside and go into a store or a bar. I would never leave my other fat bike unattended. I've kept it largely stock for that reason. It's actually pretty quick with the rotational-weight mods i've done. I routinely pass slow ppl on much more expensive bikes.

One of the funniest things (TO ME) is that Pacific Cycles is sending whole bikes as replacements for parts that break (and they don't have in stock). Can anyone please tell me why the individual was "blacklisted"; I'm new to this procedure, but maybe this will get me deleted too.

I personally don't get it. I understand the whole tinkering aspect, but which parts are worth keeping? They've managed to make the frame tinker-resistant, with the unique BB width, no brake mounts, weird geometry, etc. If you're gonna replace everything anyway, just buy a used Pugs frame and hang your parts bin components on it.

I don't like Walmart and their business practices. I don't shop there for anything else, either.

As a craftsman (woodworking), nothing about this bike appeals to me. It's disposable. The fact that the warranty support consists of sending out a complete replacement bike for even the most minor problem confirms this. It's even more disturbing than the bike itself.

Interest in the Walbeast might be a reflection of dormancy in the bike market. I love Santa Cruz, and my family has four of them, but when a 650b me-too (IMO) bike is heralded as a significant innovation, things are dormant (IMO). I don't even have a horse in the race since I reside in socal, land of fruits, nuts, but not fatbikes, but these threads are (TO ME) the most interesting on MTBR now. Can't wait to see what Chopsmitty has in store for his.

Honestly, to tinker and swap cheap parts...this is no different than all the other cheap Walmart mountain bikes that everyone bashes on. Except this one is fatty so it's cool....
Interesting is all i have to say.

Can I please get the source for the lefty to walgoose fat beast adapters?
I want to put a $1000 fork on a $200 bike.

Well, many have wasted the first $200, and from what I'm seeing some on here are wasting at least that much on top of the first amount, so why not another grand. Besides, my comment above was in fun. That said, many people put a lot of money into items not worthy of any additional money in all sorts of activities.

Many fatbikers come from different cycling backgrounds, some don't at all! I have no opinion on this walmart fatbike, but if i own one i couldn't justify to my self talking about a $200 walmart bike on the Internet

Not a lefty nor tubeless but...anyone notice the price difference between the Carver Ti PryBar and the Thomson units? Same bar but with different bends.

Thomson Ti...$249.95

Carver Ti...$99.95

Mongoose effect upon the free market?

No, you're wrong. The Carver bar is 100g lighter.
Not sure what this has to do with the W***Goose, though.
Carver's been selling their Taiwan-built Ti frames and bars at low prices for years.
And Thomson? Dumb move in my book to dilute their brand by selling Taiwan-made stuff, especially at those prices.

No, you're wrong. The Carver bar is 100g lighter.
Not sure what this has to do with the W***Goose, though.
Carver's been selling their Taiwan-built Ti frames and bars at low prices for years.
And Thomson? Dumb move in my book to dilute their brand by selling Taiwan-made stuff, especially at those prices.

There have been those who are hoping that the Mongoose FatWally would apply a downward price pressure on 'better' fat bikes.

A quick review search of the Carver Ti PryBar turned up zero negative reports. Bikeman promotes it as being stiff.

So...chances not looking so bright?

On the upside...a promo for Carver? Thomson...I don't understand their price structure; appears like they are pricing on their brand, a loss in my book, too bad.

There have been those who are hoping that the Mongoose FatWally would apply a downward price pressure on 'better' fat bikes.

A quick review search of the Carver Ti PryBar turned up zero negative reports. Bikeman promotes it as being stiff.

So...chances not looking so bright?

On the upside...a promo for Carver? Thomson...I don't understand their price structure; appears like they are pricing on their brand, a loss in my book, too bad.

I don't think many sane people are looking at that Walmart POS as a substitute for a decent fatbike. I'm not convinced fatbikes are overpriced myself. Tires and rims, maybe.

I respect what Carver/Bikeman does. Good price, low hype and minus the cult of personality that some other brands cultivate. I'm sure their Ti bar is good. I've never broken a handlebar of any kind in 24 years of mountain biking, though.

I've always liked Thomson's stuff. I've owned plenty of their stems and seatposts. I like the way they look and work, they're light enough, not too pricey and made in the USA. Just puzzled by their approach to the bars. I think I read that they plan to bring the manufacturing in house later on. If that's the case, why not wait until they're ready to do that?